Can-opener



J. D. HOUCK.

CAN OPEN ER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I5. I919.

1 54,399. Patentedsept. 28, 1920.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. HOUCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CANT-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1920.

Application filed October 15, 1919. Serial No. 330,746.

T 0 all whom may concern Be it known that I, JOHN D. HoUcK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gan-Openers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in can openers and consists of a simple and eflicient apparatus of this nature, which is made adjustable to operate on cans of different heights and diameters.

The invention consists of vafious details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically defined in the appended claim. The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon form a part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detached detail view in perspective of the clevisshaped member, forming one of the parts of the device, and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detached detail view in perspective of the bracket forming one of the parts of the device.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by numerals:

1 designates a standard adapted to be fastened to a stationary board, or other ob ject, 2, said standard being longitudinally slotted as at 3. A bracket l longitudinally slotted as at 5, has an angled end 6 shoul-- dered as at 7 to engage and slide in a groove in one face of the standard, as shown clearly in a sectional view of the drawings. An adjusting screw 8 is mounted in a threaded aperture in the angled end of said bracket and 9 designates a washer interposed between a shoulder upon the screw and the face of the standard, affording means whereby the bracket may be held at different elevations by tightening the screw.

A clip 12 has angled ends resting upon the bottom of the recess 13 formed in the upper surface of the bracket near its end and is centrally apertured to receive a pivotal screw 14 passing through the same and through a hole in the bracket, and upon which a rod 15 is pivotally mounted, said rod having a suitable handle 16, and twocutter disks 17 which are preferably integral with each other and spaced apart, are adapted to straddle the rim of the can being cut by said disks. Said cutters are loosely mounted upon the rod and adapted to fit over cylindrical cans of different diameters. Said clip has a downwardly extending portion at its longitudinal center and adapted to engage a sunken recess in the upper surface of an adjustable lever 18, slotted as at 19, and having a contracted portion 20, movable in a longitudinal slot in the standard. Said lever 18 is adapted to rest in the sunken portion in the upper surface of the bracket, being held from lateral movement by the flanges 21 upon the bracket.

A clevis shaped member 22 has its ends formed into spurs and has a threaded aperture 22 for the reception of a screw 28 carried by the bracket 4 and passing through the slot 5 therein, and through the registering slot 19 in the lever 18, and affords means whereby as the screw is tightened said spurs may be held in different adjusted positions longitudinally of the bracket 4 according as it may be desired to outline openings upon cans of various diameters.

In operation, the bracket is adjusted to the height of the can, the top of which is to be out, after which the screw fastening the spurs may be adjusted to the diameter of the can to be cut. This being accom- Plished, the cutter disks are moved upon the rod, so that they will straddle the rim of the can.

The lever carrying the spurs is then pushed down until the spurs cut throu h the can and afford means for holding t e latter stationary, while the operator by grasping the handle and swinging the rod carrying the cutters, upon its pivot, pressing down upon the handle, and cause the cutter disks to cut a circular outlined opening around the marginal edge of the top.

By the provision of a can opener embod ing the features of my invention, it will e noted that a simple and efiicient device is afforded which may be easily and quickly adjusted for cutting cans of various diameters and lengths by simply raising or lowering the bracket member, carrying the can holding spurs and the adjustment of the latter, as will be readily understood.

What I claim to be new is, A can opener comprising the-:combination of a longitudinally slotted and longitudinally grooved standard, a bracket avingan angled extension provided with a longitudinally extending rib, slidabl 1 engaging said groove 'in the standar means or holding said bracket at any point in adjustment, lon 'tudinally of said Q standard,--the upper su ace of the bracket having marginal longitudinally extending the spur carrying member longitudinally of 2 5 said bracket, comprising a screw carried by said spur member, and passing through said registering slots and carryin an integral thumbpiece, and cutter carrying means pivotally secured to the end of said bracket. 30

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN D. HOUCK. 

